Posted November 2003

EPB Telecom will begin offering business customers an all-fiber Internet solution that will make Mayor Corker’s vision for an affordable, high speed, high bandwidth Internet product a reality in Chattanooga, according to EPB President Harold DePriest.

Offering businesses, regardless of their size, the capacity necessary to meet their individual needs, EPB Telecom’s new Internet product gives Chattanooga business customers access to a 100 percent fiber Internet path and the best connectivity available in the industry, DePriest said. This technological advancement will catapult Chattanooga to a competitive position with other technology-driven cities such as Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles in appealing to companies who are considering relocating or expanding, he said.

"EPB Telecom’s all-fiber product is the future of high-speed Internet communications, and our team of experts are putting Chattanooga on the technology map," DePriest said. "Through Mayor Corker’s great vision, we are now offering the most advanced Internet technology to businesses of all sizes throughout the greater Chattanooga area. This new technology will help existing businesses in our community become more successful in a global economy, and will be a tremendous asset in attracting new businesses to Chattanooga that rely on these technologies in their day-to-day operations."

EPB Telecom’s all-fiber Internet service starts at 1.5 Mbps, the maximum capacity for most providers, and can be customized to provide up to 500 Mbps—capacity that is 300 times faster than traditional connections through T1, cable and DSL…that’s far more than businesses need today, but is what they will need in the near future, DePriest said. And while traditional service alternatives upload information at a notably slower speed than downloads, this new Internet product provides remarkably symmetrical upload and download speeds, he went on.

DePriest said businesses will now have the option to move large amounts of information at much higher speeds, with increased security protection and unmatched reliability for a price that’s extremely affordable. And with virtually unlimited expansion potential, customers that receive the service will have the flexibility to easily upgrade as their business and service needs grow, he said. This immediate scalability will allow them to request a service upgrade with a simple phone call, and they can continue to add the bandwidth they need to continuously and effectively conduct their business.

DePriest pointed out that by connecting Chattanooga to the research corridor extending from Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA) in Huntsville EPB Telecom’s Internet product offers access to one of the most advanced research networks in the country, furthering Chattanooga’s position as a technology center.

EPB Telecom’s new Internet product is now available and will be expanding over the next few years to provide service throughout Chattanooga and Hamilton County. EPB Telecom is already servicing the needs of its EPB headquarters, as well as Baylor School, Playcore, Marshall Mize Ford and Strang, Fletcher, Carriger, Walker, Hodge & Smith PLLC.

"Baylor School's experience with EPB Telecom’s high-speed Internet service has been nothing but "A plus" all the way around," said Vince Brannan, Baylor's Director of Information Services. "It has allowed us to provide a dedicated service to our boarding students at a minimum cost, and the type of physical connection provided has kept our startup costs down and our bandwidth performance has been excellent. The technical support is by far EPB Telecom’s best asset. They have always been accessible, knowledgeable, and quick to respond."

EPB Telecom also offers lower bandwidth customers a complete array of Internet products that are affordably priced and delivered by more conventional methods. Bandwidths for these packages are available from 128 Kbps and up.

For more information about EPB Telecom’s all-fiber Internet solutions, call (423) 648-1500 or visit the company online at www.epbtelecom.com.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading business and economic development organization for the Chattanooga region. For over 100 years, the Chattanooga Chamber has provided community engagement and opportunities for businesses, large and small, including networking, business promotion, business discounts, and public policy advocacy, as well as leadership development and training opportunities.

In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber is a one-stop-shop for site selectors and business decision-makers considering investments and job creation projects in the Chattanooga region. The Chattanooga Chamber is also responsible for marketing Enterprise South Industrial Park, a top-tier industrial park that offers significant strategic business advantages. In addition, the Chattanooga Chamber administers the Chattanooga Hamilton County Business Development Center, the largest business incubator in the U.S. in terms of the number of start up companies it houses, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Growth, an innovative effort to nurture technology-based start-up companies.

As the first stop for people interested in moving to the Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Chamber provides a range of relocation information including demographics, informational videos, connections to Chattanooga Area jobs, and frequently asked questions.